Banco Nacional Ultramarino - Lisboa, Portugal
Posted by: 
btrodrigues
N 38° 42.544 W 009° 08.221
29S E 488086 N 4284502
This is a bank building that belonged to Banco Nacional Ultramarino (later Caixa Geral de Depósitos) and which as been whose interiors have been stripped out to start hosting, mid 2009, the permanent collection of MUDE: Museu do Design e da Moda
Waymark Code: WM8RPV
Location: Lisboa, Portugal
Date Posted: 05/08/2010
Views: 23
Located in Baixa in downtown Lisbon, an area that has been recreated from scratch on the 18th century after the 1755 earthquake, is suffered a massive reconstruction deal in the 1950s. The building changed hands throughout the years, but the ultramarine simbology is still present on the facade (the coat of arms of the portuguese republic and bas-relief sculptures related to each of the portuguese colonies around the 60s), as well as the corporate logos of the bank group that owned it. As for the building itself, it has a slight, proletarian look. Eschewing last century's insistence on staid white walls, but still eager to spotlight the works themselves, it employs a warehouse-looking aesthetic (i.e. not flashy confines).
Thing is, bringing a museum downtown instantly ups the area's cultural credentials. MUDE currently features the appositely named Preview which showcases work by John Galliano, Jean Paul Gautier, and Vivienne Westwood, as well as older pieces and looks. With 170 different works, the comprehensive catalogue portends the type of things to come.
Address:
Rua Augusta 24
Lisboa
1100-053 LISBOA
Year: 1951
Website: [Web Link]
Current Use of Building: Art Museum
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Visit Instructions:
Please give your impression about the bank and/or it's architecture. Also please post another photo of the building.